For nearly 10 years, families and residents have been advocating for a public elementary school in the Peter-McGill neighbourhood. And yet, the project is still on hold.
Today, children from the neighbourhood attend a school in the neighbouring Saint-Léon-de-Westmount area. That school is now overcrowded, and some families are beginning to be redirected to schools outside the neighbourhood.
Without a local school, it is harder for families to build connections and develop a strong sense of community.
A campaign that began in 2016
The campaign began in 2016. Over the years, families and residents have taken part in numerous initiatives to move the project forward.
In 2018, an “Open-Air School” event was held at Cabot Square, bringing together families, elected officials, school representatives and the media. Several potential sites were considered, including Académie Bourget, the Grey Nuns site, the Grand Séminaire and the former Montreal Children’s Hospital site.
That same year, the “Plan Our School” initiative brought residents, community organizations and school representatives together to imagine what a future school could look like.
Construction finally begins… and then stops
In 2023, work finally began at the Académie Bourget site, including soil decontamination.
But in 2024, the project was put on hold after funding was suspended by the Ministry of Education.
In 2025, the campaign continued with a petition launched by provincial MNA Jennifer Maccarone calling for the construction of a public elementary school in the neighbourhood.
A new petition is now underway in 2026, launched by the Peter-McGill Community Table, once again calling for a public elementary school in the area.
👉 Sign the petition for a public elementary school in Peter-McGill
The community keeps mobilising
On September 16, 2026, families and residents once again gathered at Cabot Square for an “Open-Air School” event, highlighting the urgent need for a public elementary school in the neighbourhood.
The event brought the community together around a request that has now been going on for a decade.
What happens next?
In 2026, the question remains: when will children in the neighbourhood finally have a public elementary school close to home?
After 10 years of advocacy, the need is still there.
A school is more than just a building. It is a place where children grow, families connect, and a community is built.
Families in the neighbourhood are now waiting for a clear answer and a concrete timeline.